Oppression In Ayn Rand's Anthem

In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, a collectivist society is suppressing a man named Equality 7-2521. He is different from the all the others. One day however, he creates something truly special. His society has backtracked away from electricity. They never knew electricity, or used it.. Equality created electricity, in the form of a “light box”, or a light bulb. He is very excited to present the wonder to the council. His primary motivation was not to benefit the society. Equality’s primary motivation of creating his invention was to prove himself, relieve his creative side, and to become famous.

The book Anthem by Ayn Rand is about a dystopian collective society where the public is supposed to work together for the good of the entire people, not for just an individual. The main protagonist, Equality 7-2521, explains things about the place he lives in, how his daily life is, and in some way knows that he is different from everyone else. According to the book, it is clear to see that he is smarter, more handsome, and taller than everyone else. Still, he is shamed for his differences. Instead of becoming a scholar, as he was meant to do and dreamed of doing, he is assigned the role of a street sweeper. This society steals the life of people and tries to make everyone feel as though they are an equal people, where the word “I” does not exist, but is instead “we”. A very specific set of laws exist, as well. For example, one is not allowed to prefer one person over another.

In the dark ages many lack the intelligence of simple knowledge. The lack of knowledge leaves one without correct judgement. In the city of Anthem numerous of rules are proposed to serve “equality”. In such place one is contained in a mental state of obedience to what they believe is correct. Apparently the rules and regulations in the city of Anthem were to assure that no individual is more superior than another, yet achieve justice incorrectly. Words such as “I”, “him”, or even “her” were forbidden due to the fact that, that proved inequality, because if one is referring to another or themselves as and individual you place yourself apart from society causing you to think highly or poorly of yourself. They tried to depict a world of equality by

. . but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men must.” These words of a member of the World Council of Scholars, which exiles Equality 7-2521 after he presents his lightbulb, in Chapter VII, reflect the view, pervasive in Equality 7-2521’s society, that any idea not held by all men is worthless. Equality 7-2521’s confidence in the usefulness of his invention is irrelevant, as the council cares not about advancing scientific progress but rather about controlling it. The World Council will not act unless all its members agree and, as a result, has not approved any technological progress in the last hundred years. The philosophy expounded here by the council member reflects the ideals of collectivism, against which the whole of Anthem is written. Rand believes that when society acts based on consensus, the weakest members of society drag down the most exemplary members, with the result that society never achieves its maximum potential. This system represents the we that Rand considers the ultimate evil in society and against which all her heroes, including Equality 7-2521,

Equality 7-2521 lives in a society with a government much like communism. The government, called the World Council; controls everything and anything. They limit thoughts of every person, everyone must be the same. No man or woman is allowed to think for themselves because there is no such thing as themselves. The word “I” does not exist in their civilization. Everyone is “brothers” and must all think the same. Equality is different though; he thinks as an individual person. In the beginning of the novel Anthem written by Ayn Rand; Equality believes all the laws he’s breaking are terrible sins against the Council and his fellow brothers. Equality’s eventual assessment for his sins are correct. He comes to the conclusion that he is allowed to think for his own and do what he wants in life. Equality is very intelligent; he cares for others, and strives to be a better person.

As Will Rogers once said, “We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” In the novel Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the main character, Equality, is presented to the reader as smart, tall, and one who thinks for himself. On first glance none of these things would seem bad, but in the society of Anthem, all three of those things are considered wrong. The irony in this is how Equality in the novel does not fit the society’s view on equality. With a world very different than that society, it is very important to see what equality means today and God’s view on being equal.

Ever heard of a society that does not have an individual? A society that is completely controlled? The book Anthem by Ayn Rand shows a society without an individual. An Anthem is an uplifting song that is identified by a certain body or cause. Ayn Rand wrote Anthem because she grew up in the Soviet Union, where it was a very communist society where people were supposed to be equal, but she saw that other people were higher above her

Anthem by Ayn Rand is a narrative about a young man, named Equality 7-2521, who lives in a collectivist society. This book is about the personal journey of Equality 7-2521 in a future version of our society. In this novel, the reader reads about an environment in which everyone is considered as one, meaning that no one is meant to be an individual. Each person in this society is assigned a certain job to benefit their “brothers” and is expected to follow a certain order throughout their lifetime. Helping their fellow members is also an important rule to their society because it promotes the concept of selflessness. Anthem by Ayn Rand portrays three different themes that the reader acknowledges; selflessness, order, and equality.

Leaders decided that this applies to all discoveries that were or could have been made alone. These evil creations and discoveries were taken away, and very soon gone from memory, stripping civilization of all modern day technologies. In the text, Equality 7-2521 explains to the reader that civilizations most recent advancement in light was the candle, which came fifty years after the torch. Today we are constantly coming up with new innovative ways to produce light, so it is strange to see a society advancing so languidly. The Council of vocations only adds to this gradual movement by assigning jobs that keep all of the populace away from thinking individually. As shown in the writing, Equality 7-2521 is placed as a street sweeper, instead of a scholar where is creative mind would be best placed in today’s society. The council was obviously extremely meticulous in their placements, making sure that someone as bright and curious as Equality 7-2521 was not included in the House of the Scholars. Also, the fact that being alone is considered a sin and a crime against humanity provides a roadblock in advancement of technology. This ‘evil’ assures that scholars are never allowed introspective or time to reflect and study by themselves and can only experiment with the company of others. When Equality shows his discovery to the scholars he is shunned for his offense, despite the fact that his was the most advanced creation of their

As a child, everybody wants freedom to do anything they want and not go to school, but nevertheless it will be hard to live without school. In Ayn Rand's book Anthem, the main character Equality is confused and is looking for his identity, but due to the society's norms he can’t as he is stuck at a job he does not like lacking individuality and strives for it and earns his freedom. Without individuality, Equality 7-2521, feels the lack of freedom and opportunity for choice. Equality feels, “We asked so many questions that the Teachers forbade it” (7) Equality is being denied his individuality because he is asking a lot of questions. People who ask a lot questions are generally people who are curious and want to learn more.

The sweet sound of a woman's voice singing fills the whole room, and with this, a man stands. This man is in gray and expressionless. Three others as the man stand; all the same. They rush to the women and restrain her. No one is better than anyone. No one must be individual. Reform, stay in line, fairness, unity, equalize and destroy. The women should have not sang if she happened to be better at singing than others around her. . . this is the way. Complete and utter equality between all men can be harmful to one's spirit and humanity.

The famous adage, “ignorance is bliss” may be true for some, however Equality is not one of them. Equality is happier knowing the truth than being kept in the shadows. In Ayn Rand’s oppressive, totalitarian society where individualism is the highest crime, Equality struggles to free himself from collectivism. Thus, enforcing the idea that his curiosity and intellectual strength is the reason he overcomes his internal conflict.

Because of this, those in the Home of the Scholars may not have the same drive to discover new things about the world like Equality. The reader sees this in the book, where the Home of the Scholars has only invented candles and glass “only a hundred years ago” (24). However, in the span of just a few months, Equality was able to perform and create the unthinkable. His love for the Science of Things brought him to his findings, and gave him the ambition to share it as well. The discovery of candles and glass did not spark motivation in the Scholars; otherwise, it would have lead to more discoveries in the period of 100 years. In order to have technological advancement, an individual must not be forced to work on projects he does not wish to work on. Rather, it takes dedication to do so. This dedication resulted in Equality’s discovery of electricity in his time period.

“No creator was prompted by a desire to serve his brothers, for his brothers rejected the gift he offered and that gift destroyed the slothful routine of their lives” (Rand, The Fountainhead). As described in the novel The Fountainhead, history has shown to repeat itself by punishing the inventors of new objects that go against societal normalities. This is evident with Equality 7-2521, the protagonist in Ayn Rand’s book Anthem. Set in a future free of technology, Anthem depicts a man’s struggle to free himself from collectivism. In the novel, society has put strict rules in place to ensure members are controlled and free from independent thought. Equality acknowledges these rules throughout the book yet still breaks them to pursue his passion for learning and inventing. Equality’s decision to put his own interests before society’s ultimately leads to his liberation.

In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the society attempts to achieve complete equality, but that attempt is unsuccessful because it eradicates individual thought and decision making, essentially dehumanizing the population. The first evidence of the discouragement of individuality in this dystopia appears in the opening paragraph, where the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, confesses that he is guilty of wrongdoing, saying, “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others thinks and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws. The laws say that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so. May we be forgiven!” (17). What stands out immediately is that Equality 7-2521 refers to himself as “we,’ not “I.” This in itself is a clear indication that people are not regarded as individuals in this society but as parts of one big group or family where everything is communal and for the “common good.” Additionally, the phrase “no transgression blacker than to do or think alone” is a blatant expression of the fact that thinking or acting for oneself is the greatest crime in this society. Finally, this paragraph introduces the Council of Vocations, a supposedly omniscient panel that decides everyone’s occupation for them, based on what the society needs and what they are suited